Boyhood to Manhood Foundation

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what funding her Department provides to the Boyhood to Manhood Foundation.

Vernon Coaker: The From Boyhood to Manhood Foundation received £4,980 from the fifth round of the connected fund, and £4,950 from the sixth round, which was completed in August 2007. We are working with the organisation to help them develop their business plans for the longer term but are also currently finalising an immediate grant payment so that they may continue their services to boys and young men who may otherwise fall into criminal activity.

Immigration Controls

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps the Government has taken to improve the UK's immigration system since 1997.

Liam Byrne: I refer my hon. Friend to the statement by the Home Secretary on 20 February 2008,  Official Report, column 351, in which she outlines both the substantial progress that has been made in improving our immigration system and the Government's plans for the next phase of immigration reform—a new deal for citizenship.

Cancer: Health Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library a copy of the study referred to in paragraph 7.28 of his Department's Cancer Reform Strategy on cancer treatments in the United Kingdom and the United States.

Ann Keen: A copy of the "Audit of A/on Surgical Cancer Admissions Report", (without Appendix B), has been placed in the Library.
	Due to the level of detail it contains Appendix B has been withheld to safeguard patient confidentiality.

Community Care: Medical Equipment

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the Answer of 5 February 2008,  Official Report, column 1066W, on community care: medical equipment, which academic organisations form the consortia who will be assessing the whole system demonstrators.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 26 February 2008
	 The Department has been consulting with a number of eminent researchers from leading academic organisations in order to shape the evaluation methodology for the Whole System Demonstrator programme. These organisations include University College London, the London School of Economics, University of Oxford, Manchester University, Imperial College of London, the Kings Fund and Nuffield Trust together with the University of Birmingham.
	We are currently engaged in negotiations with these organisations to formalise contractual relationships to deliver this evaluation.

Departmental ICT

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) mobile telephones,  (b) personal digital assistants and  (c) laptop computers issued to departmental staff were reported (i) lost, (ii) missing and (iii) stolen in each year since 2001.

Ben Bradshaw: We do not keep figures for missing assets. The figures below are reported losses and thefts, DH do not distinguish between these two groups.
	DH Losses / thefts of mobiles, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) and laptops 2001-07:
	
		
			  Financial  y ear  Mobile phones  PDA's  Laptops 
			 2001-02 36 3 35 
			 2002-03 37 1 30 
			 2003-04 29 3 34 
			 2004-05 15 2 23 
			 2005-06 11 5 18 
			 2006-07 18 4 11 
			 Totals 146 18 151 
		
	
	Since 2005 all DH laptops been marked with a forensic dye as a proof of ownership and a High visibility label advertising this. Additionally laptops are encrypted to protect any information stored on them and PDAs wipe all the data stored on them after a series of failed attempts to enter the correct user ID and password.

Departmental ICT

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many of his Department's personal digital assistants were  (a) lost and  (b) stolen in each of the last five years; and what the value of those items was.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department uses the Blackberry Enterprise Solution personal digital assistants (PDAs)with recommended procedures and configuration from the government's technical security authority, CESG, as suitable for processing RESTRCTED information. This includes guidance on authentication standards and processes to protect information stored on the device. For example PDAs wipe all the data stored on them after a series of failed attempts to enter the correct user ID and password.
	The Department does not distinguish between losses and thefts.
	
		
			  DH reported losses / thefts for the period April 2002 to March 2007 
			  Financial year  PDAs  Cost (£) 
			 2002-03 1 247.71 
			 2003-04 3 1,107.29 
			 2004-05 2 757.87 
			 2005-06 4 1,822.04 
			 2006-07 5 1,617.40 
			 Total 15 5,552.31

Honours

Greg Pope: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many members of the Senior Civil Service in his Department have received an honour.

Ben Bradshaw: The number of honours awarded to senior civil servants currently employed at the Department over a five-year period from the new year of 2004-08 is as follows:
	Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB): two;
	Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE): eight; and
	Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE): five.
	Data is not routinely kept by Department on:
	the number of awards held by individuals;
	awards that are not related to official duties; and
	awards already held by staff before joining the Department.

Local Involvement Networks: Trafford

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department has taken to put in place interim arrangements for the period between the closure of the Trafford Patient and Public Involvement Forum and the establishment of the Trafford Local Involvement Network.

Ann Keen: A local involvement network (LINk) transitional duty, which will be set out in regulations, will mean that for a period of up to six months, from 1 April 2008, local authorities (LAs) that have not yet successfully contracted with a host organisation, and as a result do not have working LINk arrangements in place, should make other arrangements for ensuring 'LINks activities' may be carried out. This could take a range of forms, although the LA itself will not be able to carry out the activities, nor will an national health service body.
	We would expect LAs to invite local people and patient and user organisations with an interest in, and knowledge of, health and social care to participate in what will be the core group of the LINk when a host is appointed.
	We strongly encourage LAs to seek peoples' input. Many organisations already have in place stakeholder groups, members of which may well be ideally placed to form the basis of the LINk, whether it be on a transitional basis or the final version. Clearly existing members of Patients' Forums are well placed to be involved early on, but LINks are to be formed of a much wider base and we have urged LAs seek the involvement of people involved in user and carer groups, and representatives from the wider voluntary and community sector too. Such action will help to ensure that a LA meets its transitional duty.
	From 1 April 2008, Trafford metropolitan borough council will be responsible for ensuring that LINk activities take place in its area. Trafford Primary Care Trust (PCT) is working closely with Trafford Council and other partner organisations to establish a Trafford LINk.
	Trafford PCT representatives are members on the following LINk related groups:
	LINk Task and Finish Group;
	LINk Procurement Group; and
	LINk Transitional Working Group.
	Trafford PCT is also a member of the Borough's Local Strategic Partnership (Trafford Partnership). The primary purpose is to enhance the quality of life and prosperity for all Trafford's residential and business communities. The PCT is currently involved in the development of Trafford Partnership's Community Engagement Strategy.
	After 1 April and LINks coming into force, Trafford PCT will continue engaging with its local population to ensure that commissioning processes are informed and influenced by the views and opinions of local people.

NHS: Private Sector

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will place copies in the Library of all guidance his Department has issued to the NHS on the mixing of public and private treatment  (a) within an episode of care and  (b) within a care pathway; how he defines an episode of care for the purposes of the former; when the guidance was last updated in each case; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what his Department's policy is on the mixing of public and private treatment  (a) within an episode of care and  (b) within a care pathway; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what representations he has received from hon. Members,  ( a ) members of the public,  ( b ) clinicians and  ( c ) other interested parties on mixing NHS and private treatment in the last six months; what the content was of these representations; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: It is a long-standing principle that an individual cannot simultaneously be an national health service and a privately funded patient of the same national health service hospital within the same episode of care. Allowing top-up payments would risk creating a two-tier service, undermining the core principle of the NHS that treatment is provided free at the point of use, based on clinical need, not ability to pay. I also refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Ribble Valley (Mr. Evans) on 18 December 2007,  Official Report, columns 723-24.
	Guidance issued to the NHS has established the basic principles of clear separation of public and private treatment. It is for NHS organisations to form policy in line with this guidance and decide the extent of an episode of care or care pathway where a patient decides to self-fund a treatment.
	Copies of the guidance are available in the Library. I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Christchurch (Mr. Chope) on 22 January 2008,  Official Report, column 1939W, for details of the guidance.
	The Department has received a small number of representations from hon. Members, clinicians and the public on the issue of combining privately funded and NHS funded treatments in the last six months.

Polyclinics

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS polyclinics there are in England; and where each is situated.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department does not collect information about services commissioned locally by primary care trusts (PCTs). However, following the announcement made by my right hon. Friend Secretary of State (Alan Johnson) on 10 October to invest new resources into primary care, every PCT in the country will be procuring a new general practitioner led health centre during 2008-09.

Electronic Government

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the Government's strategy is on e-democracy and e-participation.

Michael Wills: The Government continue to explore and promote the best uses of online technologies in support of public engagement in democratic processes. The strategy for local e-participation is being delivered via the "Connect to your council" take up campaign. The Community Empowerment Action Plan commits the Government to develop on-line tools to support empowerment and democracy and DCLG is working in partnership across government to establish the best means for delivery locally according to what local areas want and need.
	In the Governance of Britain Green Paper the Government set out a long-term aim to investigate the potential benefits of remote electronic voting and to take advantage of emerging communication technologies to provide increased flexibility and choice in the way people vote. In the immediate term we are reviewing the lessons learnt from previous e-voting pilots. This will help to inform our programme of work for electronic voting.

Electronic Government: Departmental Coordination

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what cross-departmental e-democracy projects his Department has initiated; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Wills: My Department initiated the Digital Dialogues project that works with other Government Departments in exploring the use of online technologies to promote dialogue between government and the public. The project is in its third stage. Following each stage, an evaluation report is produced that analysed the case studies and provides supporting guidance on how best government can use these methods. More information is available at http://www.digitaldialogues.org.uk. We are expecting the evaluation of the third stage to be published in the summer.

Electronic Government: Finance

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what e-democracy projects his Department  (a) has funded and  (b) plans to fund; and what the (i) outcome and (ii) cost of each completed project was.

Michael Wills: The Department has funded e-participation projects on government to citizen engagement, citizen video blogging, online citizen juries, web mapping tools on broken civic infrastructure, representative blogging, use of mass media participation tools and applications for young people to engage in political issues. The Department has also funded five local authorities in piloting e-voting (including remote voting) at their local elections in May 2007. A breakdown of the individual projects and associated costs is detailed in the following table.
	The outcomes from the e-participation projects have included the active engagement of numbers of people in democratic processes, case studies, guidance material, web resources and tools. Each of the e-voting pilots supported successful elections and provided valuable lessons in relation to the use of the technology.
	We will be reviewing the outcomes and lessons learnt from these projects to inform our future plans for e-participation and e-voting.
	
		
			  e-participation projects 
			  £ 
			  Project  Costs 2006-07  Costs 2007-08 
			 Radiowaves 35,030 (inclusive of VAT) 148,750 (inclusive of VAT) 
			 Heads Up 15,000  (plus VAT) n/a 
			 Bristol City Council—vlogging 14,500  (plus VAT) n/a 
			 The Young Foundation—"Fix-My-Street" web mapping tool 10,100  (plus VAT) n/a 
			 South Kesteven District Council—Online Citizen's Jury 10,100  (plus VAT) n/a 
			 UK Citizens Online Democracy—Fax your MP 10,100  (plus VAT) n/a 
			 Gallomanor Communications Ltd.—Councillor 2.0 n/a 14,500 
			 Involve—Teleparticipation n/a 15,000  (plus VAT) 
			 Milo Creative Ltd. "mPower" n/a 15,000  (plus VAT) 
			 MySociety—GroupsNearYou.Com n/a 15,000  (plus VAT) 
			 Digital Dialogues 80,435 54,000 
		
	
	
		
			  e-voting projects at the 2007 local elections in May 2007 
			  Project  Cost (£) 
			 Rushmoor 579,917.50 
			 Sheffield 856,897.63 
			 Shrewsbury 1,096,165 
			 South Bucks 706,192.20 
			 Swindon 1,149,969.22

Ministerial Duties: Electronic Government

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice which Minister has lead responsibility for e-democracy and e-participation.

Michael Wills: I am responsible for e-voting and have the policy responsibility for e-participation at central Government level. Policy for e-democracy and e-participation at the local level is the responsibility of Communities and Local Government (CLG). The lead Minister is Parmjit Dhanda and Baroness Andrews has responsibility for digital inclusion.

Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when she intends to commence the provisions of the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002; and if she will make a statement.

Iain Wright: The Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002 (the Act) received Royal Assent in May 2002. Most of the provisions have now been introduced through a series of commencement orders.
	The first phase of leasehold reforms came into effect on 26 July 2002, with the second phase coming into effect in two parts on 30 September and 31 October 2003. These measures included: a relaxation of the qualifying rules to make it easier to buy the freehold or a new lease; a new no fault 'Right to Manage' provisions for leaseholders of flats to take over management of their block where they do not wish to or cannot afford to buy the freehold; and new procedures for consultation on service charges.
	A further commencement order brought into effect the provisions in Part 1 of the Act relating to Commonhold, on 27 September 2004. Commonhold is a new form of tenure for blocks of flats and other multi-unit properties, under which occupiers would own their units outright, and through a commonhold association own and mange the common parts collectively.
	Another phase of the leasehold reforms was brought into effect on 28 February 2005. This provides leaseholders with better- protection against forfeiture, and requires landlords to send a written demand for ground rent before it become payable. Leaseholders of houses can also now choose their own buildings insurance.
	The most recent phase of leasehold reforms was bought into effect on 1 October 2007. These introduced a requirement for landlords to send a summary of a tenant's rights and obligations including information set out in Regulations, when demanding service charges. A requirement was also imposed upon landlords sending demands for administration charges to serve a notice containing prescribed information about tenant's rights and obligations in relation to such charges.
	The remaining provisions of the Act deal with accounting for service charge monies and provide for collective enfranchisement to be exercised through an RTE company. The accounting provisions require landlords to keep service charge monies for each group of service charge payers in separate (designated) accounts; and require landlords to provide a regular statement of account together with other relevant information.
	A consultation paper dealing with the accounting provisions was published in July 2007, with a summary of the responses received published in January this year. The summary of responses set out our intentions to proceed with proposals to amend the provisions of the 2002 Act in order to ensure leaseholders are provided with appropriate information and protections without incurring a disproportionate cost. Work is ongoing on the detail of the provisions and amendments to the legislation will be made at the earliest opportunity.
	In relation to the RTE company provisions, there are a number of legal and practical difficulties which still need to be resolved and work is continuing in order to determine a way forward. Therefore no timetable has yet been set to bring these provisions into force,
	The Welsh Assembly has devolved responsibility for secondary legislation in respect of leasehold provisions in Wales.

Community Relations: Housing

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when her Department plans to issue revised guidance to local authorities about the strategic housing role and the preparation of housing strategies mentioned in the Government's Response to the Commission on Integration and Cohesion; and if she will make a statement.

Iain Wright: As indicated in response to the Commission on Integration and Cohesion, we aim to publish the revised guidance in late spring.

Council Tax: Pensioners

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment she has made of the effect of above inflation council tax rises since 1997 on the income of pensioners in those areas with such rises.

John Healey: Keeping council tax under control is in the interests of all taxpayers and remains a priority for the Government. We will not hesitate to use our capping powers as necessary to protect taxpayers from excessive increases.
	As Sir Michael Lyons recognised in his report on local government last year, council tax benefit is the key to tackling the perceived unfairness of council tax towards all those on low incomes. The Government are working hard to improve take up and has done a great deal to improve pensioner incomes, spending around £11 billion more on pensioners in 2007-08 than if 1997 policies had continued.

Council Tax: Post Offices

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what discussions she had had with local authorities on the premium charged to people who pay their council tax through post offices; and if she will make a statement.

John Healey: I have regular discussions with local authorities on a wide range of issues. The collection of council tax is a matter for individual local authorities which may, if they choose, make arrangements to allow residents in their area to pay their council tax bills over the post office counter.

Domestic Wastes: Waste Disposal

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether domestic properties with a Class U council tax exemption will be liable to pay the new charges for the collection of household rubbish.

Joan Ruddock: I have been asked to reply.
	Domestic properties with a class U council tax exemption are those occupied only by people who are severely mentally impaired who would otherwise be liable to pay council tax.
	The exact details of how a scheme might operate would be up to the local authorities running pilots to decide. However, the Government have stressed in its overarching framework that pilot authorities must take account of the needs of potentially disadvantaged groups in devising and running such a scheme. We would expect this group to fall under the definition of a potentially disadvantaged group. Therefore, it may well be that authorities decide to exempt them from the scheme, on the basis that they cannot be expected to separate their waste for recycling.
	DEFRA intends to provide further details in guidance for local authorities on how to take account of disadvantaged groups.

Eco-Towns

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the minimum criteria is for connection from eco-towns to nearby settlements.

Caroline Flint: In the eco-towns prospectus we said that eco-towns must be freestanding settlements, separate and distinct from existing towns and cities, but well linked to them by high quality public transport.

Eco-Towns

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what facilities and amenities will have to be included in an eco-town.

Caroline Flint: As set out in the Eco-towns Prospectus we have said that eco-towns should provide for a good range of facilities within the town—a secondary school, a medium scale retail centre, good quality business space and leisure facilities. However, they are not expected to be entirely self-sufficient, and will be closely linked to larger towns and cities that provide for a wider range of needs.

Eco-Towns

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps will be taken to ensure that eco-towns are designed to conserve water and other natural resources.

Caroline Flint: One of the seven key criteria we set out in the Eco-towns Prospectus covered environmental issues and this includes ensuring that the development incorporates high standards of water efficiency, particularly in areas of the country defined as severely water stressed, and incorporates environmentally sustainable approaches. We have also asked the Town and Country Planning Association to produce worksheets on the practical application of the criteria and this includes the water cycle and green infrastructure.

Eco-Towns

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether eco-towns will be subject to an independent landscape appraisal.

Caroline Flint: As set out in the Eco-towns Prospectus we have said that there must be a commitment to high standards of environmental sustainability, this will include taking into consideration how the eco-town will affect the existing landscape. All shortlisted eco-towns will be subject to sustainability appraisal and landscape appraisal will be one of the many issues against which eco-towns will be considered.

Eco-Towns

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how eco-towns will be required to demonstrate that the proposed settlement is the most sustainable option for housing and growth.

Caroline Flint: I will shortly announce a consultation paper on eco-towns which will include a shortlist of areas that have been put forward as potential eco-towns. An appraisal of sustainability is being undertaken, of which, one of the tests will be to appraise the sustainability of eco-towns.
	Furthermore, at the local level, where schemes are considered as part of the local planning process, sustainability appraisal will be undertaken of the strategy as well as options for delivering the eco-town, this will include the consideration of alternatives. The local planning authority must clearly show how it has taken the requirements of sustainability appraisal into account in developing its policy.
	Finally, all eco-towns will be the subject of a planning application, it is likely that the principal planning application for an eco-town would need to be accompanied by an environmental impact assessment which would need to include an outline of the main alternatives considered.

Eco-Towns: Architecture

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what standards of architectural design eco-towns will have to demonstrate.

Caroline Flint: As set out in the eco-towns prospectus we have said that there must be a commitment to a high standard of design throughout the development, across all housing tenures and buildings. This includes commercial and community buildings, and extends to the quality of the streets, public realm, parks and open spaces, and should be consistent with planning policy.
	We are also working with CABE, RIB A and the Prince's Foundation for the Built Environment to stimulate new architectural thinking for eco-town schemes and these organisations will be running a design competition involving the leading British and international architects, and urban and landscape designers to set the standards for the 10 new eco-towns.

Eco-Towns: Carbon Emissions

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether eco-towns will be required to be carbon neutral.

Caroline Flint: As set out in the eco-towns prospectus, we have said that the whole eco-town development should reach zero carbon standards, not just homes, but to include schools, shops, offices and community facilities.

Eco-Towns: Standards

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what criteria will be used to determine whether eco-towns represent the most efficient use of land.

Caroline Flint: I will shortly announce a consultation paper on eco-towns which will include a shortlist of areas that have been put forward as potential eco-towns.
	Planning Policy Statements (PPSs) such as PPS 1 on the delivery of sustainable development and PPS 3 on housing, require local planning authorities to consider how all development makes the most efficient use of land. An appraisal of sustainability will be undertaken, of which, one of the tests will be to appraise the use of land contained in the bids which have been and are being considered.
	At the local level, additional sustainability appraisal will be undertaken where proposals are brought through the local planning system. It is also likely that the principal planning application for an eco-town would need to be accompanied by an Environmental Impact Assessment which would need to include an outline of the main alternatives considered.

Health and Safety Executive

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the Answer of 15 January 2008,  Official Report, column 788W, on the Health and Safety Executive, what estimate her Department has made of the number of homes in the country with water heaters of the kind involved in the death of Rhianna Hardie.

Iain Wright: There are no official statistics on the number of different types of hot water systems in homes. The Health and Safety Executive's advice in their 2007 safety alert is that the risk is greatest for homes where cold water cisterns are located above bedrooms. This is most likely in houses built between 1945 and 1975 and where these homes have or used to have a back boiler.

Housing: Prices

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which local authorities had 15 percentile house prices that were 70 per cent. of the national level.

Iain Wright: Based on HM Land Registry house price data for April to June 2007, there were 20 local authorities that had 15th percentile house prices that were less than 70 per cent. of the national level.
	The 20 local authorities with 15th percentile house prices that were less than 70 per cent. of the national level during April to June 2007 are:
	Barrow-In-Furness
	Blackburn with Darwen
	Bolsover
	Burnley
	Copeland
	Derwentside
	Easington
	Hartlepool
	Hyndburn
	Kingston upon Hull
	Lincolnshire
	Liverpool
	Mansfield
	Middlesbrough
	North East
	Pendle
	Sedgefleld
	Stoke-on-Trent
	Teesdale
	Wansbeck
	Wear Valley.

Housing: Standards

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of the number of homes that meet the decent homes standard but do not meet the thermal comfort standard.

Iain Wright: In order to meet the decent homes standard a home must provide a reasonable degree of thermal comfort as defined in "A Decent Homes: definition and guidance for implementation" available at:
	www.communities.gsi.gov.uk.

Local Government

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what  (a) estimate her Department has made of and  (b) research her Department has conducted into the cost of (i) local authority reporting to central government and (ii) local government inspection by external inspectors and auditors.

John Healey: A PricewaterhouseCoopers report "Mapping the Performance Landscape", commissioned by this Department and published in July 2006, estimated that the costs of reporting performance information to central Government was of the order of £2.6 million. This estimate is based on a study of four local authorities. The Department for Communities and Local Government will begin research during the 2008-09 financial year to consider the savings due to the introduction of the new performance framework.
	The Department is responsible for sponsorship of the Audit Commission. The Audit Commission is the only inspectorate of local government to charge a fee element to authorities for inspection. The total inspection fee income in 2006-07 published by the Commission was around £11 million. The Department also pays grant to the Commission to underwrite the cost of its inspection activity. In 2006-07, this grant totalled almost £26 million. The Department does not hold information about the costs of inspection of local authorities by other local inspectorates.

Local Government Finance Funding Changes Independent Inquiry: Finance

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the budget for the Lyons Inquiry was.

John Healey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Maidenhead on 17 April 2007,  Official Report, (column 627W).

Taxation: Burglar Alarms

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether account is taken of security systems and burglar alarm systems by the Valuation Office Agency when revaluing a property for  (a) non-domestic rates and  (b) council tax.

John Healey: Security and alarm systems are taken into account when assessing a property for non-domestic rates.
	Similarly such systems should be taken into account when reviewing a banding for council tax although, in practice, the effect on value is extremely unlikely to result in a home being placed in a different band.

Thames Gateway

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 31 January 2008,  Official Report, columns 589-91W, on the Thames Gateway to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar if she will list the central government departments that are involved in the Thames Gateway.

Caroline Flint: The following Government Departments are involved in the Thames Gateway:
	Communities and Local Government
	Department of Health
	Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills
	UK Trade and Investment
	Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform
	HM Treasury
	Department for Environment, Food and Rural affairs
	Department for Children, Schools and Families
	Department for Work and Pensions
	Department for Transport
	Department for Culture Media and Sport
	Home Office
	Cabinet Office
	Ministry of Defence
	Ministry of Justice

Working Neighbourhoods Fund

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 31 January 2008,  Official Report, column 592W, on the Working Neighbourhoods Fund, which local authorities which were in receipt of Deprived Areas Fund, but which did not receive Neighbourhood Renewal Funding, will not Receive Working Neighbourhood Funding, following the end of any transitional relief.

John Healey: The authorities listed were in receipt of Deprived Area Fund but did not receive Neighbourhood Renewal Funding and will not receive an allocation of funding from WNF following the end of transitional relief.
	Luton
	Kensington and Chelsea
	East Lindsey
	Redbridge
	Wandsworth
	West Lancashire
	Calderdale
	Waveney
	Southend-on-Sea
	Tendring
	Allerdale
	Torbay
	North Somerset
	Gloucester
	Ashford
	Portsmouth
	Bassetlaw
	Lancaster
	Scarborough
	East Riding of Yorkshire
	Ellesmere Port and Neston
	Darlington
	King's Lynn and West Norfolk
	Peterborough
	Merton
	Bexley
	Bedford
	Warrington
	Chester-le-Street
	Bournemouth
	Weymouth and Portland
	Charnwood
	East Staffordshire
	North Devon
	West Lindsey
	Chester
	Corby
	Wyre
	Carlisle
	Swindon
	Newark and Sherwood
	Crewe and Nantwich
	Boston
	Shepway
	Dover
	High Peak
	Milton Keynes
	Isle of Wight
	City of London
	Maidstone.

Plastics: Recycling

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what records his Department holds on  (a) which local authorities collect mixed plastic for recycling and  (b) what recycling method is used after collection from residents in each case.

Joan Ruddock: Mixed plastics is a term used within the recycling sector to refer to plastic packaging other than plastic bottles.
	DEFRA does not hold records on which local authorities collect mixed plastics for recycling or what method of recycling is used after collection.
	Local authorities report the tonnages they collect for recycling, which includes plastics, to WasteDataFlow. However, it is not possible to differentiate mixed plastics from other types of plastic collections in this data source.
	The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) is undertaking trials with a number of technologies aimed at understanding the best ways to handle mixed plastics from an environmental, economical and technological perspective. The programme is investigating three main areas: collection, reprocessing, and end markets. Different recycling and recovery options are being considered as part of this work.
	WRAP and Recoup conduct an annual survey of local authorities which gathers data on waste plastics collections. The 2008 survey will be undertaken shortly, and will include specific questions on mixed plastics. When the data from this survey has been analysed, it should provide more information on those local authorities collecting mixed plastics.

Armed Forces: Training

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will bring forward proposals to ensure that Ministry of Defence training is not provided to overseas military pilots from regimes associated with  (a) repression of minorities and  (b) ethnic cleansing.

Bob Ainsworth: The Ministry of Defence provides training to other countries in accordance with Defence policy and wider HMG policy objectives. The countries to which we provide training are under continuous review, and the record of a regime is one of many factors that are taken into account when deciding whether to provide pilot training. Proposals to change policy towards pilot training are brought forward, as necessary, as circumstances change.

Armoured Fighting Vehicles

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 18 February 2008,  Official Report, column 87W, on armoured fighting vehicles, how the internal space requirement for the Panther vehicle compares with the Cheetah vehicle; and what the minimum space requirement is.

Bob Ainsworth: For Panther the original Iveco vehicle has five seats, which is reduced to either four or three, depending on the specific Bowman radio installation. In the event of Panther being deployed on operations, there would be a requirement to fit a suite of force protection measures. These can be accommodated in a 'pod' at the back of the vehicle, rather than in the main crew compartment.
	Cheetah has six seats, which would reduce to either five or four, depending on the specific Bowman installation. Cheetah lacks the additional equipment stowage area at the back of the vehicle which means that additional force protection equipment would have to be accommodated inside the crew compartment, potentially reducing the available crew space further.
	Regarding the minimum space requirements for the protected patrol vehicle programme, for which the Cheetah vehicle was previously considered, I am withholding the information as its disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces.

Departmental Pay

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much was claimed in reimbursable expenses by senior civil service staff in his Department and its agencies in the last 12 month period for which figures are available.

Derek Twigg: Total reimbursable expenses paid to MOD senior civil service staff between 1 February 2007 and 31 January 2008 was 540,000.

Departmental Vehicles

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 7 February 2008,  Official Report, column 1492W, on departmental vehicles, how many white fleet vehicles his Department and its agencies leased in each year since 2001.

Bob Ainsworth: The number of white fleet vehicles leased by the Department in each year since 2001, (i.e. non-operational vehicles in England, Scotland and Wales), cannot be broken down into yearly totals, however the following 'snapshots' are available.
	
		
			  Date, as at:  Number of vehicles leased 
			 1 September 2001 8,063 
			 1 September 2002 8,910 
			 31 March 2003 12,754 
			 31 March 2004 13,723 
			 31 March 2005 14,211 
			 31 March 2006 14,599 
			 31 March 2007 15,009 
			 31 December 2007 15,138 
		
	
	Details of the number of white fleet vehicles leased by the MOD since 2001 in overseas theatres, by the MOD police, DSTL and Trading Funds are not held centrally and therefore could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Future Rapid Effect System

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has made any changes to the number of units required for the Future Rapid Effects System.

Bob Ainsworth: The Future Rapid Effect System (FRES) is currently in its assessment phase; work on detailed requirements is continuing, and the fleet requirements for each FRES family will not be confirmed until the main investment decisions are taken.

Royal Military Academy: Foreigners

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many foreign citizens were trained at RMA Sandhurst since 1997; and of what nationalities.

Bob Ainsworth: 800 students from 79 countries have trained at RMA Sandhurst since 1997. Their nationalities are set out in the following.
	
		
			  Country  Total  1977  1988  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007  2008( 1) 
			  Commissioning Course  
			 Afghanistan 8 — — — — — — — — 3 3 2 — 
			 Albania 1 — — — — — — — — — 1 — — 
			 Algeria 2 — — — — — — — — — 1 1 — 
			 Antigua 1 — — — — — — — — — 1 — — 
			 Armenia 1 — — — — — — — 1 — — — — 
			 Azerbaijan 1 — — — — — — — 1 — — — — 
			 Bahrain 45 4 4 4 5 5 4 6 2 5 3 2 1 
			 Bangladesh — — — — — — — 2 2 1 1 1 — 
			 Barbados 3 — 1 — 1 — — — 1 — — — — 
			 Belize 32 3 4 4 2 4 3 4 2 3 1 2 — 
			 Bhutan 1 — — — — — — — — 1 — — — 
			 Bolivia 1 — — — — — — — 1 — — — — 
			 Botswana 15 3 2 2 2 1 1 — 1 1 1 1 — 
			 Brunei 39 2 1 3 2 8 5 4 4 2 4 3 1 
			 China 1 — — — — — — — — — — 1 — 
			 Czech Republic 5 1 1 — — — 1 1 1 — — — — 
			 Egypt 5 — — — — 1 1 1 1 1 — — — 
			 El Salvador 2 — — 1 1 — — — — — — — — 
			 Ethiopia 3 — — — — — — 1 — — 2 — — 
			 Fiji 16 2 2 3 2 — 2 2 1 2 — — — 
			 Gambia 5 — — — 1 — — — — 1 — 2 1 
			 Georgia 4 — — 1 1 1 1 — — — — — — 
			 Ghana 6 2 1 — 1 — — — 1 — — — 1 
			 Guatemala 6 1 1 1  1 1 — — 1 — — — 
			 Guyana 5 1 1 — 1 — — — 1 — 1 — — 
			 Hungary 2 2 — — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Iraq 8 — — — — — — — 2 2 2 2 — 
			 Ireland 1 — — 1 — — — — — — — — — 
			 Jamaica 51 7 9 2 4 2 6 4 3 5 2 5 2 
			 Jordan 23 1 1 4 1 1 4 1 3 2 2 2 1 
			 Kazakhstan 2 — — — — — — 1 1 — — — — 
			 Kenya 9 2 — — — — — 2 1 1 1 1 1 
			 Kuwait 55 8 8 4 6 5 6 3 5 2 4 4 — 
			 Kyrgyzstan 1 — — — — — — 1 — — — — — 
			 Latvia 2 — — — — 1 1 — — — — — — 
			 Lesotho 2 — 1 — — — — — — — 1 — — 
			 Lithuania 3 — — — 1 — 1 1 — — — — — 
			 Luxembourg 2 — — — — 1 — 1 — — — — — 
			 Malawi 14 2 2 3 2 1 1 — — — 1 1 1 
			 Malaysia 7 1 1 — — — — — 1 3 1 — — 
			 Maldives 2 — — 1 — — — — — — — 1 — 
			 Malta 12 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 — 
			 Mauritius 2 1 — — — — 1 — — — — — — 
			 Mauritania 1 1 — — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Morocco 1 — — — 1 — — — — — — — — 
			 Mozambique 3 1 — — — 1 — — — — — 1 — 
			 Namibia 4 2 — 1 — — — — — — — 1 — 
			 Nepal 25 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 2 2 
			 Nigeria 14 — — — 1 3 2 2 1 2 2 — 1 
			 Oman 55 3 6 3 4 6 3 5 7 7 2 5 4 
			 Pakistan 14 2 2 2 — 2 1 — 1 1 1 2 — 
			 Palestine 2 — — — — — — — — — — 2 — 
			 Papua New Guinea 3 1 — 1 — — — 1 — — — — — 
			 Paraguay 5 1 1 — 2 — 1 — — — — — — 
			 Philippines 3 — — — — 1 — — 1 — 1 — — 
			 Qatar 27 4 7 3 2 3 1 1 — 2 — 3 1 
			 Rwanda 1 — — — — — — — — — — — 1 
			 Saudi Arabia 13 1 — 1 1  2 1 1 2 2 2 — 
			 Senegal 11 — — 3 2 3 — — 1 1 — — 1 
			 Singapore 16 2 — — 1 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 
			 Slovenia 1 — — — — — — — 1 — — — — 
			 South Arica 6 — — — 1 1 1 1 — 1 1 — — 
			 Sri Lanka 8 1 1 — 1 — — 1 1 1 1 — 1 
			 Sudan 2 — — — — — — — — — — — 2 
			 Swaziland 2 — 1 — — 1 — — — — — — — 
			 Syria 1 — — — — — — 1 — — — — — 
			 Tanzania 9 1 1 1 — 1 1 1 1 1 — 1 — 
			 Thailand 13 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 — 
			 Tonga 1 — — — 1 — — — — — — — — 
			 Trinidad and Tobago 3 — 2 — 1 — — — — — — — — 
			 Uganda 8 — 1 2 — — — 1 1 1 1 1 — 
			 Ukraine 6 1 1 1 1 1 1 — — — — — — 
			 United Arab Emirates 72 6 1 4 2 7 9 11 8 7 6 9 2 
			 Uruguay 1 1 — — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Uzbekistan 2 — — — — — — 1 — 1 — — — 
			 Yemen 20 1 — — 1 — 4 5 3 — 3 3 — 
			 Zimbabwe 8 3 2 2 1 — — — — — — — — 
			 Totals 774 79 71 63 60 68 71 73 69 69 59 67 25 
			   
			  Professionally Qualified Officer  
			 Bahrain 4 — — — — — — — — — 1 — 1 
			 Brunei 4 — — — 1 — — — — 2 — 1 — 
			 Estonia 1 — — — — 1 — — — — — — — 
			 Total 7 — — — 1 1 — — — 2 — 1 1 
			   
			  TA Commissioning Course  
			 Bermuda 19 — — 5 2 — — 4 3 2 2 — 1 
			   
			 Grand totals 800 79 71 68 63 69 71 77 72 73 62 68 27 
			 (1) 2008: January course only.

UN Resolutions

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps the Government have taken in support of implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325.

Des Browne: The UK is one of only six countries to have drawn up a National Action Plan for the implementation of UNSCR 1325. This outlines how the UK implements the Resolution in a wide range of areas. The main focus for the Ministry of Defence is to ensure that female personnel are deployed in appropriate numbers on operations, and that the provisions of UNSCR1325 are reflected in operational planning, doctrine and training.
	The department has conducted an audit of existing training which concluded that British military personnel generally receive sufficient training to ensure that they are compliant with the intent of the Resolution. Following the recommendations of the audit, we have also ensured that the Resolution is covered in relevant doctrine, and that pre-deployment training includes relevant briefings on the role/relevance of gender to the specific society living in the operational area.
	More information on the Government's efforts to implement UNSCR 1325 is available on the FCO website:
	http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1142534038014

Bombs

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to  (a) participate in future Oslo Process conferences,  (b) sign up to a treaty to prohibit the use, production and transfer of cluster munitions and  (c) declare a moratorium on the use, production and transfer of cluster munitions until a treaty is in place; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: We look forward to taking part in the next Oslo Process conference in Dublin in May when negotiations on a treaty are due to conclude. We have been fully committed to the Oslo Process from the start. We were among the original 46 nations that supported the Oslo Declaration in February 2007, which began this process to conclude a legally binding instrument to prohibit those cluster munitions that cause unacceptable harm to civilians in 2008. We are pleased to have associated ourselves with the Wellington Declaration (22 February 2008) that brings us a step closer to achieving this aim.
	We, and our EU partners, also want the UN Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) to adopt a legally binding instrument on cluster munitions as soon as possible. This would ensure that our humanitarian objective is fully achieved as the CCW includes the main users and producers of these weapons who have remained outside the Oslo Process.
	In March 2007 my right hon. Friend the Defence Secretary announced the withdrawal of the UK's basic cluster munitions (systems that have neither target discrimination capability, nor an in-built self-destruct mechanism). The Government believe withdrawing a weapon, as we did, is more sustainable than a moratorium because the weapons are clearly put beyond use. We cannot exclude the use of the cluster munitions that we retained in certain circumstances.

Falkland Islands: Oil

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions the Government have held with  (a) the Falkland Islands government and  (b) the Argentine government on exploration for oil and gas in Falkland Islands waters.

Kim Howells: holding answer 28 February 2008
	The Government hold regular discussions with the Falkland Islands government on issues including the exploration for oil and gas in Falkland Islands waters. Most recently, these have included meetings between the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's (FCO) Director General for Defence and Intelligence and other FCO officials with representatives of the Falkland Islands government in January and February 2008.
	There have been no discussions, with the Argentine government, on the exploration for oil and gas in Falkland Islands waters since the South West Atlantic Hydro Carbons Commission ceased to meet in July 2000. On 27 March 2007, the Argentine government announced its repudiation of the 1995 Joint Declaration on hydrocarbon exploration in the special co-operation area. We regret the Argentine decision, which makes future co-operation in this area more difficult. But we remain committed to promoting practical cooperation with Argentina in the South Atlantic and on broader international issues.

Kosovo: Higher Education

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate he has made of the number of students enrolled in tertiary education in Kosovo, broken down by sex; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: The Second Millennium Development Goals Report for Kosovo states that in 2004-05 there were 28,935 students in tertiary education, of which 46 per cent. were female.

Kosovo: HIV Infection

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate he has made of the prevalence of  (a) HIV/AIDS and  (b) tuberculosis in Kosovo; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: While health data in Kosovo is weak, HIV prevalence is widely estimated to be low. Despite a number of risk factors which could increase HIV infection rates, the UN considers Kosovo to be on track to meet the MDG target on HIV/AIDS.
	TB incidence in Kosovo averages 48 new cases per 100,000. This is slightly higher than neighbouring countries, reflecting overall lower average health outcomes in Kosovo.

Kosovo: Unemployment

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate he has made of levels of  (a) youth,  (b) female and  (c) total unemployment in Kosovo; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: Unemployment in Kosovo is among the highest in the world. National statistics place unemployment among people aged 15 to 24 at 70 per cent., unemployment of women at 60 per cent., and total unemployment at 41 per cent..
	The Department for International Development is currently working with key donor partners to assist the government of Kosovo in formulating a strategy for economic growth in Kosovo.

Offices: Pension Service

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans his Department has to co-locate the Pension Service and the Disability and Carer's Service staff in the same offices.

Mike O'Brien: There are no current plans in place to change the locations of staff. Some staff are already co-located.